The U.S. Department of Commerce has reached an agreement with the Mexican government and sugar producers to suspend the antidumping and countervailing duty cases against Mexican sugar imports. The deal is causing cautious optimism among sugar producers and criticism from sugar users.

Officials say an agreement to normalize diplomatic relations between the United States and Cuba could lead to improved trade possibilities and important opportunities for agriculture in the Upper Midwest.

Shareholders of Minn-Dak Farmers Cooperative of Wahpeton, N.D., can expect a low beet payment at $36.86 per ton for their 2014 crop, with an additional $3 per ton contingency to be paid out if processing goes well.